Alex Semin (Part 1 of 2): 4 Reasons Why The Devils Should NOT Sign Him

After surfing a wave of solid fundamental play, ferocious forechecking, peaking youth, and crafty veteran leadership to a Stanley Cup final, the New Jersey Devils have come back down to Earth with an eerie thud.

With a loss in that championship bout to the Los Angeles Kings in five games and most recently watching its captain and American folk hero, Zach Parise, return home to Minnesota following a ridiculous contract offer from the Wild, as well a some back room wheeling and dealing via text message with former Nashville Predator star and current twin city teammate Ryan Suter 36 hours prior to inking identical multi-year, $98 million deals, the weeks following that fateful evening of June 9th have not been kind to the Devils.

However, focal points shift, and with so much gone wrong, the free agent signing period is viewed as a way to remedy that sinking feeling in a fan base’s collective stomach, and that New Jersey congregate has set its sights on the much debated Alex Semin.

Here are four reasons why the Devils should NOT take a chance on the right winger:

1) Semin should be signed by now…what’s wrong?

Alex Semin was one of the top free agents entering this pre-season signing period. A proven offensive weapon with the Washington Capitals, this is a player that should have had general managers scuffing their Khakis while crawling to place lucrative offer sheets at his skates, which begs the question: Why has Semin not yet been taken off the market?

And the fact is, two camps can’t come together on terms. The Russian-born sniper desires a long-term deal with a proper price tag, and from the looks of it, although the dollars are not the big issue, no organization is ready to match the wingman’s preferred length. In other words, at this time, not a single NHL franchise views this skater as a safe investment…which segues beautifully into my second point.

2) Will Semin check out with a check in hand?

Brain Slug

The consensus surrounding Alex Semin is that of an unhealthy mental state. He’s not suffering from any serious psychological issues, “merely” an alleged lack of commitment and effort, symptoms comparable to the attachment of a Futurama brain slug…and you can’t sign a player at length and for major dough with fears that he’ll transform into a heartless zombie, or worse, Sergei Samsanov, after signing a high end free agent deal.

3) Don’t sign Semin as a response to Parise and Rick Nash

The Devils saw its stature as the class of the Eatern Conference, and Atlantic Division juggernaut for that matter, take a pair of huge hits in the past few weeks with the departure of Parise and the New York Rangers robbery of the Columbus Blue Jackets for Rick Nash. And many members of the New Jersey fan base view Semin as a necessary response to these deals.

No trigger should ever be pulled too quickly on a free agent signing, especially as a response to a competitor’s maneuvers. Brazenly made decisions in this field often lead to disastrous results…see the Rangers seven-year, $51 million offer to Scott Gomez in 2007.

You sign a player because of his talent, his work ethic, and how he’ll fit your style of play, not as a response to the actions of others.

4) Why not look at Shane Doan first?

If signing a winger is your wish, why not talk to Shane Doan first? You know what you’re getting with this hard-nosed captain of eight seasons in Phoenix: Loyalty (the free agent has spent 15 of his 16-year NHL career with the Coyotes), leadership (the aforementioned eight-year captaincy), and a grinder mentality that’s turned Doan into the face of that franchise. The reputation this aging star has worked hard to obtain, and one quite the opposite of the questionable Semin, could make Doan a better fit for New Jersey…but he has other suitors such as the Canadiens, who he met with today (July 25th), Philadelphia Flyers, and the Rangers (although the organization’s pursuit may be finished since the Rick Nash deal). Regardless, Doan has given the Coyotes a July 27th deadline to come to terms or he will test the waters of free agency.

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About Chris Rotolo

Chris Rotolo graduated from The College Of New Jersey in May of 2011 and has been working in the Asbury Park Press' Sports Department since September of 2010 covering BlueClaws Baseball, Ice Hockey, Track & Field, and Cross Country, Tennis, and more. Follow along on Twitter: @rote7123

2 Responses to Alex Semin (Part 1 of 2): 4 Reasons Why The Devils Should NOT Sign Him

Thanks…so, does that mean you agree with everything written; or that you stopped reading after the first couple of sentences due to a typo? I’d love to have your feedback. Let me know what you think.

-Chris

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About the Authors

Chris RotoloChris Rotolo graduated from The College Of New Jersey in May of 2011 and has been working in the Asbury Park Press' Sports Department since September of 2010 covering BlueClaws Baseball, Ice Hockey, Track & Field, and Cross Country, Tennis, and more. Follow along on Twitter: @rote7123E-mail Chris

Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004, covering a variety of high school beats in addition to college sports and the New York Jets. A 2004 graduate of Springfield College, he is currently the beat reporter for Monmouth University.E-mail Josh

Sherlon ChristieSherlon Christie is a sports reporter at the Asbury Park Press. He joined the APP in the fall of 2004. He grew up in Massachusetts, has a BA in Journalism from Northeastern University's School of Journalism. He is also the secretary of the National Association of Black Journalists.E-mail Sherlon